Lower Brule man pleads guilty to marijuana possession

A Lower Brule man pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Vincent Battese, 24, entered the plea in federal court in Pierre.

Battese was witnessed by a Lower Brule K-9 police officer operating a motor vehicle on Oct. 26, 2009. Because the officer knew Battese did not have a valid driver’s license and did have an active warrant for his arrest, the officer initiated a traffic stop. Battese pulled into the driveway of a residence and attempted to elude the officer by running into the house.

The officer pursued Battese into the residence. When Battese was arrested, he was in possession of nine baggies each containing 1.95 ounces of marijuana.

According to police, Battese attempted to discard one of the baggies. Two baggies were found in his back pocket and the remaining six were located in Battese’s vehicle.

On Nov. 9, 2009, agents with the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force executed a search warrant at Vincent Battese’s residence.

The search yielded a Western Union receipt for $976, a digital scale, a hand scale, a grinder which tested positive for marijuana, four marijuana roaches, 33 marijuana joints, three phones, an empty pistol magazine and bank records.

A urine sample came back positive for marijuana.

Battese made trips to purchase marijuana that he would then sell to others. Battese would handle at least 250 grams but less than 1 kilogram of marijuana.

A presentence investigation was ordered. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 25.

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